Kenneth Hahn State Park

It doesn't look steep, but it is when you're pushing two growing lads in a tandem stroller wearing flipflops!
An Autumn day at Kenneth Hahn State Park and having a job choosing a best for Blip (thanks).


It is but ten minutes away from home, yet I have never been here before. Perhaps because the journey to get here takes us on a road well travelled, 11,000 miles worth on visits to see Reuben at Children's Hospital from birth til 6 months old, and perhaps too because of the therapies close by which otherwise occupied our time. The wheels remained in motion, not once, til now, making that right turn and discovering an oasis of calm and nature.

I have an intense love affair with the outdoors, am an ardent environmentalist and here my senses are awakened by the sweet smell of eucalyptus in the air, mature sycamores gracing the skyline and joyously remaining in a megalopogis that chokes to breath. The relatively new State Park borders an oil field where dereks, nodding donkeys, suck the Earth's oil from its core leaving such a painful scar upon the hillsides. It once extended to the land upon which we now hike, before it was reclaimed back for nature.

This park is an utter delight and the boys and I, all with our little snively colds, chase ducks, play in the many different playgrounds, watch fishermen catch catfish, cross bridges and watch sweet waterfalls gently cascade, and hike up to the rooftop of LA. This precipice of the vast park boasts the most awe inspiring city view, Downtown Los Angeles in the distance when, on rainy days in winter, the mountains behind will be cloaked in glistening white snow radiated by the setting western sun. I see the Hollywood sign, the Griffith Observatory and in the opposing direction, out to the Santa Monica Bay. I'm pushing the double tandem stroller up the hill in my flipflops and breathing a little hard whereupon Callum jumps over the armrest of the stroller and helps me push the stroller up the hill. There is again, another resistance and I push against it only to find too that Reuben has slipped out of the front and is helping me too. I lie not. I'm immensely touched.

Pick up a curry on the way home - it's just the three of us til Monday night and I'm planning for 3 night shifts in a row with Reuben by having him sleep in with Callum and me so nutritions is on the cards - and then eagerly watch Callum down chicken tikka masala, pashwari naan, sag baji and pilau rice.

A blissful day in an Autumnal LA.